Chappel
United Reformed Church

Chappel lies eight miles west of Colchester along the A1124 and is in the heart of the scenic Colne valley. The area is mainly rural. It has become a sought-after place to live and many residents commute to London. Chappel has a primary school, a good pub and restaurant called the Swan and a small Anglican Church built in 1352. The Rector has four parishes in the benefice. Chappel shares a village hall, general stores and post office and a railway station with Wakes Colne, its neighbour. The population is around five hundred as is Wakes Colne. An impressive railway viaduct spanning the valley is the village’s famous landmark and the East Anglian Railway Museum attracts a lot of visitors. The United Reformed Church is the only main-stream nonconformist church within a four-mile radius; the nearest URC being six miles away. The Chapel as it is affectionately known, takes pride in being friendly and welcoming, a place of joy and witness, where tradition and new ideas mix within the heritage of the Protestant Reformed discipline.
	In 1901 the year in which Queen Victoria died, nine local people met together . . . ‘to establish a cause along free-church lines in the village’ and as a result, the Congregational Church was founded. A former builder’s storeroom was found to rent and convert to a chapel – today’s United Reformed church. It is small, seating around seventy people. Chairs instead of pews make it suitable for multi-functional use. The entrance is suitable for access by assisted wheelchair users. The adjoining meeting-room can be opened up to the chapel by way of folding doors. In 2001, the Centenary of the Church was celebrated when the entire premises were renovated and refurbished following an architect’s report. A colour-scheme drawn up by ICI has greatly enhanced the interior and the kitchen was given a complete make-over and its facilities increased. The single toilet has recently been refurbished. Funding for the centenary scheme was provided by various grants and energetic fund-raising by the small congregation, along with help from Lion Walk Church. We are a small, but enthusiastic and active congregation meeting regularly for worship on Sundays at 6.30 pm – sometimes we join in united services.
A Coffee & Chat is held on the first Wednesday each month from 10.30 to 11.30 am.  A Summer Barbecue, concerts, and talks are arranged from time to time. Various fund-raising events take place usually in the local Village Hall. The Church is a keen supporter of the charity Christian Aid. The Chapel is known locally for the quality of its music and enthusiastic hymn-singing.  The fine small pipe-organ (enlarged in 1999 and 2009) dates from circa 1840 and is registered by the British Institute of Organ Studies as being of national historical importance. Over the last two years the regular congregation has almost doubled in size and the membership increased by 50%. Updated: September, 2011 Contacts Church Secretary: Anthony Percival (Tel: 01206 240442 or click to e-mail) Minister: Revd Ken Forbes (Tel: 01206 547920 or click to e-mail) Useful links: Chappel Village website National Pipe Organ Register entry for this pipe-organ

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